Several years ago a new food vendor popped up at our local farmers' market...and our lives were forever changed. Up until that point, my kids would belt out, "pupusas!", the moment we set foot in the market, so addicted were they to the traditional Salvadoran corn masa dish one stand sells there. However, one day this new vendor appeared with a gorgeous display of pastries galore and Kenya and Chloe's morning tune changed mighty quick. Hand-pies, croissants, tarts, galettes and more, each one more drool worthy than the next. Pupusas soon became a distant memory.

As the years passed we started to become friendly with the tall gentleman manning the pastry table. He always smiled sweetly whenever my kids would beg him for a taste of one of his treats -- which was always. I'm not one to allow a pastry to be the first thing in her kids' tummies at 8am, so first we would shop around, loading up on all the fruit and veggie samples to be had, then finally end up back at the pastry vendor where I would buy my little ones a treat of their choice. Kenya enjoys trying something new and seasonal each week, but Chloe always points straight at the Meyer Lemon Cakes, which are topped with the most beautiful pink icing.

After a few months of this routine I learned that the tall gentleman actually had a name, Stan, and that his wife, Valerie, was the culinary genius behind their business. Stan and Valerie have two young children, and every Sunday I would see them all around the market, buying tomatoes, strawberries and more from other farmers. It was a special sight, knowing that their baked goods were a family affair and also included the freshest ingredients possible to be sold at their shop.

After years of working on it, Valerie's first cookbook, Sweet, came out a few months ago -- and oh how sweet it is! The book is spectacular, filled with desserts and pastries perfect for Valentine's Day that will have you wanting to climb through the pages to grab a bite (or more) of them. I had the hardest time trying to single out one recipe to cook for this post, but Chloe made the decision easy as soon as she saw the picture of her favorite pink icing-adorned farmers' market Meyer Lemon Cakes. The recipe is unbelievably easy and perfect for a birthday party since it makes 24 beautiful little cakes.

In honor of Valentine's Day I'm giving away two copies of Sweet. For a chance to win one, leave a comment below telling me your favorite dessert, pastry or sweet. Winners will be chosen at random. Good luck!

Giveaway Details:

Prize: Two (2) lucky weelicious readers will receive a copy of the cookbook Sweet by Valerie Gordon. I have not been compensated in any way. All views and opinions expressed are my own.

Duration: This giveaway will be open until Wednesday, February 19th at 11:59pm.

Who Can Enter: Open to residents in the USA.

How to Enter: Leave a comment below. For more chances to win, share this giveaway on Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Google+ with the hashtag #WeeliciousGiveaways, and leave a separate comment for each letting me know you've done so.

How Winner Will Be Chosen: The winner(s) will be chosen at random and will be notified via email. The winner(s) will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

Sign Up for

Free Daily Recipes

Our delicious fresh, fast, easy recipes will have you and your family
dancing.

C. McCordC. McCord

Meyer Lemon Tea Cakes with Pomegranate Glaze(makes 24 cakes )

Prep Time: 12 mins,(PT12M)

Cook Time: 18 mins,(PT18M)

Rating:

Rate this recipe

Several years ago a new food vendor popped up at our local farmers' market...and our lives were forever changed. Up until that point, my kids would belt out, "pupusas!", the moment we set foot in the market, so addicted were they to the traditional...

Preparation

3. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or in a large bowl, using a handheld mixer), cream the butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.

4. Mix the creme fraiche, eggs, lemon zest, and juice together in a small bowl with a fork or small whisk. With the mixer on medium speed, alternately add the dry and wet ingredients in batches and continue beating until the batter is smooth, occasionally scraping down the sides of the bowl, about 3 minutes.

5. Using a large ice cream scoop or a large spoon, scoop approximately 1/2 cup batter into each prepared muffin cup. Bake for 18 minutes, or until the tops of the cakes appear matte and the shiny center has disappeared; do not bake until the cakes turn golden. Let the cakes cool in the pans for 5 minutes before removing them. Cool the cakes completely on a cooling rack before glazing, about 1 hour.

6. Sift the powdered sugar into a medium bowl. Add the lemon juice and pomegranate juice and stir with a small spatula until completely smooth. Let the glaze sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before using.

To Glaze the Cakes:

Pour the glaze into a wide shallow bowl. One at a time, pick up each cake, rotate the cake so the top is facing down, and dip it into the glaze. Carefully move the cake in a slow, circular motion so the entire surface is coated with glaze, then shake the cake gently so any excess glaze falls back in the bowl and put on a baking sheet. Put the cakes in a cool, dry area and let stand until the glaze loses its sheen and sets, about 20 minutes.

The glazed cakes can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

shawnna haddox

February 18, 2014 at 1:05 pm

Catherine Thorson

February 18, 2014 at 6:02 am

This looks awesome – like a piece of spring/summer during this cold winter!! I can’t wait to surprise my family with it this weekend

Dalila

February 17, 2014 at 11:55 pm

I tried these and unfortunately they did not work out. It’s my fault, as I misread the butter quantity and ended up using 4 1/2 sticks (thinking the 3/4 was for cup quantity). It’s too bad because when I tasted the batter, it had such good flavour. I ended up with really greasy and dense cupcakes, not to mention they took forever to bake

Tracy S.

February 17, 2014 at 4:59 pm

Tracy S.

February 17, 2014 at 4:57 pm

Candice

February 17, 2014 at 12:09 pm

Would love those cookbooks!

Erin S

February 17, 2014 at 9:28 am

yumm, i love individual sized deserts.

Vicky T

February 17, 2014 at 3:15 am

I actually have been eyeing this cookbook for a month or two! I stopped by at Valerie confections recently and saw the tea cakes on the Santa Monica Farmer’s market instagram page!! How random! My favorite dessert of all time has got to be creme brûlée with fresh raspberries on top from Little Next Door in LA. Buttery, creamy amazing texture with crisp layer of burnt sugar on top! AMAZING!

Emily S.

February 16, 2014 at 9:50 pm

Even though it is hard to choose, creme brulee is definitely one of my all time favorite desserts. Thanks for sharing this recipe. I love lemon sweets, so I will have to give this a try.

Denise wood

February 16, 2014 at 6:44 pm

My. Little guy loves the whole wheat pancakes we found here on your website. He likes it when we add mashed banana to them.
I also have a oatmeal cookie recipe that I add everything I can think of to. Grated carrots, nuts, cranberry, apricot, coconut… Whatever I have available. He loves them too. Good way to get him eating other dried fruit and nuts that he wouldn’t otherwise eat!
Thanks for your recipes, he had liked all the ones I have tried so far.

Denise

nancymar

February 16, 2014 at 5:31 pm

My most favorite treats are sugar cookies made from a recipe my sister shared. What makes this recipe so special is that it uses shortening for all of the fat, no butter. The cookies are wonderfully soft and tender. Yum!

Susan

February 16, 2014 at 5:04 pm

These look yummy . I love lemon deserts .

Kimberly Sellers

February 16, 2014 at 9:13 am

So excited that I found you and this recipe!!! Looks amazing!!!

Erin

February 16, 2014 at 2:49 am

My very favorite dessert of all time is the chocolate orange mousse cake at Cafe Lalo in NY. I miss it terribly.

Hollie Garcia

February 15, 2014 at 11:36 pm

I would have to say one of my favorite sweets is my mom’s cherry cobbler, a nostalgic childhood memory! In the first grade they had us give our favorite recipe for a class cookbook and how we thought it was made, the ingredients, etc. I gave my first-grade “version” of this recipe and of course the parents gave the actual recipes.

Tammi

February 15, 2014 at 10:21 pm

These look delicious! I can’t wait to make them.

Amy Samuel

February 15, 2014 at 9:52 pm

February 15, 2014 at 8:31 pm

Sweet! Ha ha. Really, this seems like a great cookbook!

Cynthia

February 15, 2014 at 5:27 pm

This recipe looks amazing. My kids love anything lemon. I just made some peanut butter bars with chocolate on top. No cook. Made it for the second time this week. Tastes like a peanut butter cup but much better.

Stacy

February 15, 2014 at 3:18 pm

ot chocolate

Stacy

February 15, 2014 at 3:15 pm

Hot chocolate!

Megan

February 15, 2014 at 3:13 pm

I love cream puffs and crème brulee!

marycath17

February 15, 2014 at 2:51 pm

Looks like an amazing cookbook!! My mouth is watering…

N4nappy

February 15, 2014 at 11:16 am

Shared (& liked) on FBI

N4nappy

February 15, 2014 at 11:14 am

Tweeted @tweetsweetnne

N4nappy

February 15, 2014 at 11:10 am

Pinned it

N4nappy

February 15, 2014 at 11:08 am

Love any thing lemony!

savvymom

February 15, 2014 at 12:23 am

Cheesecake hands down. Not only is it delicious but a good childhood memory too

Rebecca

February 14, 2014 at 11:43 pm

I know we are not supposed to covet but, oh, how I wish I had a farmer’s market like yours.

February 14, 2014 at 3:01 pm

Could these be more adorable!?!

Raeanne

February 14, 2014 at 12:12 pm

I wish these would magically appear on my table! They look delicious. My favorite dessert is what my family likes to call Black Forest Torte. Layers of chocolate cake with whipped cream and layers of a hard chocolate with nuts in between. Mmmmm!

Maribel Myers

February 13, 2014 at 1:34 pm

Deb E

February 13, 2014 at 1:27 pm

February 13, 2014 at 1:13 pm

Most of all, I love apple pie.

Aubrey

February 13, 2014 at 12:35 pm

Anything with Meyer Lemons is a good dessert! These look fabulous!

Cindy Cook

February 13, 2014 at 12:13 pm

The recipes you share have had a huge impact on my cooking for my grandbaby! I found you when she was needing baby food and now she is 18 months old and I still check you out at least once a week for new ideas and recipes! Thanks for sharing!

Erica

February 12, 2014 at 9:38 pm

February 12, 2014 at 9:24 pm

Blueberries scones!

Kameron A.

February 12, 2014 at 8:45 pm

Mine is really a little sweet and savory…. Apricot and pesto marscapone cheese cake. It has a pine nut and wheat craker crust, a basil pesto layer, and is topped with dried apricots and an apricot glaze (apricot brandy and apricot preserves).

Serena

February 12, 2014 at 8:28 pm

I love scones!

Tasya Khashoggi

February 12, 2014 at 8:15 pm

Hi, I LOVE cake! So many flavors; the moistness of the cake topped with sweet, creamy frosting. They are so pretty too, and are an important decorative centerpiece to my celebrations. I can’t wait to try the Meyer Lemon Tea cakes. They are adorable! Perfect petit desserts for my 3 little princesses!

Amanda Dennison

February 12, 2014 at 8:00 pm

After much deliberation I decided on coconut cream pie!

Pamela Lind

February 12, 2014 at 6:57 pm

Apple pie!

Andrea

February 12, 2014 at 6:52 pm

Shared on Instagram!

Andrea

February 12, 2014 at 6:49 pm

Pinned on Pinterest!!

Andrea

February 12, 2014 at 6:47 pm

Shared on Twitter!!!

Andrea

February 12, 2014 at 6:42 pm

Shared on Facebook!!

Andrea

February 12, 2014 at 6:41 pm

My favorite sweet is Buckeye Balls! So many memories from my childhood, but we called them “boobies” 😉

February 12, 2014 at 2:14 pm

Amanda

February 12, 2014 at 2:14 pm

Francesca

February 12, 2014 at 2:13 pm

I have so many favorites…Tapioca pudding…Banana Cream Pie….Banana Bread….I have it-Baklava.

Laura

February 12, 2014 at 2:11 pm

Anything chocolate!

Jenn

February 12, 2014 at 2:10 pm

This looks so yummy! I’m a sucker for pie, especially if there’s chocolate involved…

JENNIFER

February 12, 2014 at 2:07 pm

We love making the weelicious heart shaped toaster pastries!

Valerie

February 12, 2014 at 2:05 pm

Hmmm…I may just make this for my daughter’s spring birthday party. She loves anything pink! Thanks – I’d love the book!

Sarah

February 12, 2014 at 2:01 pm

Yum! What a lovely looking little cake, I will have to try it sometime I agree with the commenter about skipping the frosting, I am not much of a frosting lover!
. I love cookbooks, it would be great to get one!

Sandee

February 12, 2014 at 1:14 pm

Heidi Nawrocki

February 12, 2014 at 1:13 pm

February 12, 2014 at 1:08 pm

I’m super jealous that you live near and get to frequent the market where this woman does business!! I saw this cookbook featured on Food Network and another blog I follow. Can’t wait to try!! My favorite desserts are all actually breakfasts. I love pastries so so much, so cinnamon rolls and monkey bread, I just make them super decadent and call them dessert

February 12, 2014 at 1:07 pm

Cheesecake!!

Anna

February 12, 2014 at 1:06 pm

this looks delicious! i’d love to see what other wonders the cookbook holds.

Kristen Rothwell

February 12, 2014 at 1:06 pm

I’m with Chloe, give me lemon over chocolate any day. My family all chocolate but then my birthday would roll around and every year lemon lemon lemon. Over forty and I still have never grown out of it. Recipe looks delicious can’t wait to try it. Thank you!

Jamie

February 12, 2014 at 1:06 pm

How cute are these?? I never would have thought to cook them in a muffin pan and flip them before putting the glaze on.. What a clever idea?!

Betsy

February 12, 2014 at 1:06 pm

Cheesecake!

irina

February 12, 2014 at 1:05 pm

They look delicious!

Natalie

February 12, 2014 at 1:04 pm

Chocolate pudding, creme brûlée, pumpkin bread…. Can’t choose!

Sara Franklin

February 12, 2014 at 1:01 pm

mocha shortbread!

dana

February 12, 2014 at 12:58 pm

my son (5) has his own lemon lovers cookbook.
this looks fantastic!

Natalie

February 12, 2014 at 12:57 pm

My favorite is pastiera di grano.

Cynthia

February 12, 2014 at 12:55 pm

Looks delicious!! Would love to try!

Megan

February 12, 2014 at 12:53 pm

So excited to make these!

Sarah

February 12, 2014 at 12:53 pm

My favorite dessert is cheesecake…but I haven’t met too many desserts that I don’t like!

Sandy Margoles

February 12, 2014 at 12:20 pm

Maryanne W.

February 12, 2014 at 12:18 pm

February 12, 2014 at 12:17 pm

truffles….my current obsession & the reason for the sad number on my scale!!

Whitney Kays

February 12, 2014 at 12:13 pm

Chocolate mousse! I can never get enough and it’s so hard to find. I should just learn how to make it myself.

Annie

February 12, 2014 at 12:12 pm

I can’t wait to try this recipe. These cakes are perfect for Easter or a spring tea party.

suzi

February 12, 2014 at 12:12 pm

I have a huge sweet tooth! Choosing just one favorite is almost impossible so I would have to say anything that combines dark chocolate, peanut butter and whipped cream would win! thanks for the chance!

The information on this Web
site is designed for educational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical
advice or care. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses
without consulting your pediatrician or family doctor. Please consult a doctor with any questions or concerns
you might have regarding your or your child's condition.